There are many educational sites that claim to have the best online spelling program. They promise parents that they will help their children become achievers in English and other subjects. They contain large libraries of data and often have colorful interfaces designed to impress. But do they have the best online spelling program?

Do they even have a basic understanding of the latest teaching methodologies? Do they understand student behavior and teenager anxieties? Most of all, do they understand what education means? Probably no.

That's because it takes more than a degree in various subjects to teach. It takes an understanding of students, learning styles and most of all, an understanding of what the real world requires. This is why a successful learning site, as a first step, needs to engage the student's mind at various levels.

Before you go looking for the best online spelling program for your child, it may be worthwhile to consider the overall credentials of the learning academy that you are seeking. It is important to question your own goals and objectives as you seek to educate your child in the best possible institution.

People can go through high school, graduate and not be able to apply a word of what they have learnt. Clearing exams or high scores are not a true test of knowledge. Very few teachers have the ability to give practical examples of complicated theories and formulae.

Only teachers and courses that appeal to a mind in terms of immediate usefulness, will survive. So as the first primary step, you as the caregiver need to ensure that the education they are providing, serves a real life purpose - be it for financial independence or logical decision-making.

For example, most new learning methodologies focus on the recognition of letter before the ability to reproduce them. This was not always the case. Some 20 years ago, children were taught to write first and read later. This had limited practical applications as the biggest use or should we say, pay-off, of letters, is the ability to read well.

The entertainment that a child derives is addictive and `learning' begins without much ado. Similarly it has been found that the use of media specifically sounds and pictures to accompany textbook lessons, increases recall not mentioning grasp of concepts.

New teaching methodologies therefore try and use real life examples when teaching. This ensures that students are not only more involved in the process of learning but have a higher chance of retaining what has been taught.

Therefore, when it comes to choosing the best online spelling program for your child, be sure to select an institution, online or offline that focuses on real learning by integration of real life examples. A course that moves at your child's pace allowing him to spend as much time on new concepts as he needs. Without that, your child will not be able to leverage his or her capabilities to the maximum.